New Office Chair

October 11, 2010

Hiya! I hope you had a lovely weekend! As gorgeous as the blue skies were around here, I confess I spent little time outdoors. Shame on me, wasting a perfectly fine October weekend indoors. Well I didn’t completely waste it. I just ignored those beckoning blue skies because there is some major fall housekeeping going on around these parts. Plenty of filing kept me occupied. Approximately 93 lonely socks found their mate, and my closet transitioned from blue sky to gray sky weather. Out came the sweaters and scarves and boots, and away went the flip flops, tank tops and swim suits. They live to unflatter another day.

Thankfully my fabric from Tonic Living arrived last week, and I was able to work up a little office chair revamp. I’ve been wanting a swivel chair for some time, and also to add another fun fabric to the space.

I found this dated swivel chair at the thrift store for $5 bucks! I stripped it, painted it, and reupholstered it with a P. Kauffman ‘Soho’ graphic fabricin deep espresso. I was really close to choosing a glossy white crocodile fabric, but with all the white furniture in the room I thought that might be overkill, so I opted for the fun punchy pattern in chocolate and cream.

The first thing I did was remove the base and tape off the rolling feet. I wanted to paint over the oak wood and brass trim because I prefer the legs a more modern glossy cream color.

While the paint dried, I removed the peachy tan tweed like fabric. It was old and oh-so-icky.

It was a surprise and a relief to find the foam underneath was covered in thin plastic, so I saw no need to replace it, since there were no odor issues. All it needed was a little batting. I didn’t feel like adding more tufted buttons like the ‘before’ version because the new fabric was busier plus wanted a sleeker look, so I filled those holes with more batting too.

I fitted the back of the chair with a slipcover in stain resistant outdoor fabric by P. Kauffman that I found at Tonic Living for $10 a yard (they give a 10% discount if you use the code CENTSATIONAL).

I liked the idea of piping where the seams met, so I created enough to go around the back with the zipper foot on my sewing machine.

I then stitched up a slipcover for the top of the chair, paying close attention to keeping the geometric pattern straight. Always a challenge with patterned fabric ~ you can fudge more with solids but not stripes or squares ! I pinned the piping in between the seams and sewed it all together.

For the last step, I stapled the new fabric to the bottom seat, then screwed it all back together.

Now it sits in my office, adding a fresh modern graphic pattern to this space.

You make piping look easy, which makes me think that perhaps it is easy if one is just not scared to death of it. I’ve always been solidly in the “scared to death” camp, but perhaps I should give it a try!

Waaaay better. You are coming along well as a seamstress. You will be tackling a ouch in no time ;-) That fabric before was awful. WOWSERS. You made it oh so mod! Love it friend. You coming to Blissdom again?

Wow wow wow! Love the finished product!!! Thanks for the Tonic Living recommendation. I just checked our their site and and it’s awesome! Plus, I love that their fabric is so affordable. I went into Joann Fabric the other day and almost had a heart attack at their price per yard on some of the fabrics. Thanks again!

Hi! Love the chair (and the site)! any chance you could do a really slow, in-depth step-by-step tutorial on how to do piping? I have a chair that I would love to re-do, I just don’t know that I “get” piping yet. Help?

What a great new look! I love the tailored look that piping gives. I use a cotton clothesline to make mine – you get 10x the amount of cording for about the same price as the stuff in the crafts section!

nice fabric choice. i envy you because i think i’m going to end up paying someone to do my chairs and sofa for the living room. i just don’t think i have the skills…you make it look so easy though:) i love the finished product!

Girl, if anyone (!) could take a nasty old chair like that (which reminds me of my Nannie’s kitchen circa 1985) and turn it into something fabulous, it would be YOU. LOVE the new look and the fabric is pretty hot.

Slightly envious of your cool weather clothes making their debut. It’s 86 today in my area of Virginia. I did some shopping this morning and bought a sweater and some new skinny jeans, but my heart wasn’t in it….Wishing for cold!

I am SO impressed with your upholstry skills! I’m sitting here in a very comfortable office chair with oh so worn fabric. I actually gave away my expensive leather chair because it didn’t have the support I needed and replaced it with this ten dollar find at an office supply resell store. Never thought I could recover it myself…THANKS for the idea! No where as talented as you obviously are, but it’s at least a thought now!

Love how the chair turned out! Sadly, I’m old enough to remember when those chairs were popular kitchen chairs! You could order little dining sets from places like Sears or Wards, with upholstered, swivel chairs and faux wood-grained Formica tables. I like your version of the chair so much better than the original!

I just bought a little office chair at the Goodwill Outlet this weekend, thinking I would do the same thing (because I need one more project to procrastinate)….

Gorgeous job! I have a chair almost exactly like it in my new desk area of my bedroom that is so sick and needs recovering and I’m up for the job but have been trying to figure out the best way to keep the slipcover for the back on, did you use elastic or something else. I would love to know since you did such a wonderful job.

Fabulous! Just a quick note to say hi – I am a huge fan (followed you for about 2 years now).
I’m from Cape Town South Africa, which is just like were you are – amongst the vineyards & surrounded by gorgeous nature.
You really do inspire me every day! Thank you for your Centsational tips – my life will never be the same again after you introduced me to spray paint;)
best wishes from WAAAAAAY down South,
Natalie

Great job! You’re a very resourceful, creataive woman and an inspiration to all of us. It’s much more rewarding to buy at thrift stores, restore as opposed to going to a retail store and buy new. Plus it’s “green”! Pat yourself on the back for a beautiful finished product!!

@ Laurie – I just used one of those spraypaint nozzles – makes it WAY easier! You can get them in the spray paint area at Home Depot or Lowe’s

I love this idea for making over an ugly rolling office chair. I’ve been searching for a Louis 14th style chair to recover and paint and put wheels on the legs to make a cushy yet attractive chair, but this might be a cheaper and similarly attractive way to go. Sweet!

Yes!!! It is SO fun! Your pictures are FREE and better than any magazine I pay good money for! Thank you so much for sharing your gifts and talents with us. I’m inspired and I need a new office chair right now! You make me think I can do this, too!

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Hi, I'm Kate from Northern California. I'm a bargain hunter, design lover, and incurable DIYer. I'm on a quest for diamond style on a dime, and I'm out to make my world fabulous, for less, one do-it-yourself project at a time. Learn more.